Racism vs. Sexism... Is that all there is?

This has been a very interesting political season, especially on the democratic side of the ballot box.  2008 is really turning into a historical year in presidential politics.  The Democrats have a heated battle for the nomination with former First Lady, Hillary Clinton (and New York Senator) and Senator Barack Obama being the last two nominees standing.  Beyond the typical political excitement of a presidential election, this one will have either an African-American man or a woman at the head of a major party ticket for the first time ever, so the diversity spices up the pot as well.  Unfortunately our politics and emotions have turned this election cycle from a celebration of American political progress into a grade school squabble over blacks versus women, and fighting over who is more oppressed.

First off, we all learn in the second or third grade that we cannot compare unlike objects.  The historical systematic oppression of black people in this country and the historical systematic oppression and separation of women from several avenues of influence and power in this country are BOTH real, but they are not one in the same.  This is not apples to apples.  This comparison is not even apples to oranges.  At least with apples and oranges, both of the objects are fruits.  The comparison of racism versus sexism is apples to bicycles!  

There was a time in this country when black people were property in this country, and during that same time white women were married to those powers that be, some possibly slave owners, some were not.  It is understood that women have not been treated equally by men or provided them the opportunity to participate in many of the processes of government via voting rights or homeowners rights, or in the workplace, I can keep going on. I don't see how that could be considered similar, especially when this does not account for all women.  Are Latino or African-American women exempt from feeling this way, because their experiences are definitely different.

Why are we spinning our wheels on trying to decide who has it harder?  Is it African-American people or Caucasian women?  The answer is, it does not matter.  We all have to work with the cards we are dealt, and play our hand.  The citizens of this country should think really hard about how far we have come as a nation in just the last forty years.  No, things are not perfect here and they will never be, but that doesn't mean that the way we improve one segment of society is to tear the others down.  We are a complex nation of complex people and to limit the discussion and frame the argument to just racism versus sexism is cheating everyone.  This argument is not all there is in American politics.